Apparatus for generating gas from fluid hydrocarbons



Feb. 23, 1932. 5/0. BENJAMIN 1,846,939

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING GAS FROM FLUID HYDROCARBONS Filed May s, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l BY WTORNEY Feb. 23, 1932. E, o. BENJAMIN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING" GAS FROM FLUID HYDROCARBONS Filed May 3, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Al... x

Patented Feb. 23, 1932 p narrate rric EDW'ABD O. BENJAMEN, F NEWARK, NEVJ JERSEY APPARATUS FOR ennnnerzne Gas rnonr FLUID rrYnnooaaBons I Application filed May a, 1928. Serial No. 274,746.

My present invention is shown as emchamber which is maintained at high tembodied in a'c omplete apparatus or unit adaptperature and wherein the reaction between ed for use in the fire boxes of boilers or ordithe hydrocarbon and the steam is effectively nary furnaces such as are used for heating promoted, and for-burning the gas to. produce houses, but it will be round useful in other such steam and to maintain such temperarelations. Some oi lthe basic principles inture. The reaction chamberisapassage long volved are quite similar to those disclosed enough and having suiilcient volume to retard and claimed in my copending application the flow sufficiently to ailord time for a com- Ser. No. 264,411, filed March 24, 1928 and plete development of the water gas reaction, Patent No. 1,672,997. but is self-draining so as to avoid trapping In both cases, the invention resides in a or accumulation of liquids. gas producer and a suitable source of heat In normal operation, the gasified mixture for operating it. lVhile any suitable source flows from the reaction chamber through a i of heat may be employed,'the invention, as constricted nozzle under pressure suificient 5 shown, includes a burner in which fuel oil to produce powerful injector Zjet, which or other-liquid hydrocarbon is burned to prodischarges into a mixing tube having suitduce initial heat, but this heat is utilized to able air draft inlets supplying a substantial produce a water gas reaction between fluid amount of primary air to the mixture but h d a b d t f i g bon not in sufficient quantity to support combusmonoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H). In tion. The partly aerated gas-from the mixnormal full operation, however, gas thus ing e fl t0 a burner heneathfihe Steam produced is preferably. the fuel that is emgenerating-boiler in heating relation to both ployed to keep up the water gas reaction and Said er d Said reaction chamber, the it-is burned under conditions insuring pracer being 21 C011, preferably in the form 25 tically complete combustion. As part or all Of hnliX, 003K131 With and u g. a -35,

of the gas may be tapped oil or all of itinay C0I1Sid @mb1 i. Portion 0f the i rbe burned in the burner, the device is ob- Durlng the preliminary stage prior to norvio-usly adaptable for use in almost any 111211 peration, the hydrocarbon fuel flows place where generation of heat or of fuel gas t g the i n hamber and the ini d i d i ector jet into a flash pan beneath the boiler. ,The object of the invention is to produce YVh l a fficient amount of oil'accumulates complete apparatus of novel construction, the flash p the l may he ignited so especially suited to the above urposes; that the flame Will heat up the reaction chamwhich may be made of almost any size or b9ryst?am g rat r, uperheater and other it hi Q11, ill t d up undey xt operatlve elements of the device until steam conditions of use or abuse; which will operis generated in Sufficient q antity a t ate eiiiciently for the production of acompressures necessary to atomi'ze the oil, wherepletely gasified mixture; which will be auto- 1119011 the normal Water g T939601! g matical-ly self-regulating within very wide In 1101111211 Operation, the all-tennis regu- 40 limits and which will be practically fool lfitiOIl 0f the device is Clue partly to the pr 5) proof in the hands of unskilled users. P g Of the parts and partly to means The complete combination includes means for g ating the air draft to the mixing for generatingsteam, for supplying water chamber for the burner and to an arrangei; h a at as t bl b t ti ll i ment to cause relief of the pressure in the stantaneous or flash vaporization as it passes Steam line ill the hOileI When it pre ter 85 into the steam generating means, for premined pressure is exceeded. venting water from being carried along with The primary feature of the regulati 7 the steam, for superhcating the steam, for rr d '50 results from the fact that with any utilizing the steam pressure to atomize and given rate'of oil supply, too great a supply 00 inject fluid hydrocarbon into a reaction 01 steam will result in decomposing un zoo necessarily large amounts of water, producing non-combustible carbon .dioxide instead of the desired carbon monoxide. Carbon dioxide so produced operates in two ways; first, it represents a loss of most important fuel constituents; and second, it tends to retard combustion. Moreover, excessive steam is itself a diluenttending to retard combustion. Consequently, generation of steam in excess of wnat is required for the rate of fuel supply operates immediately to decrease the heat available for generating the steam. On

the other hand, the critical temperature and most efhcient operation having once been passed, decrease of steam will operate to increase the percentage of combustible carbon monoxide and decrease the steam diluent car rier to intensify combustion, thereby increasing theheat of the flame.

In conjunction with such natural self-regulation, due to proportioning ofparts, an important feature of my present invention is the provision of a boiler or steam generator comprising a steam chamber of small cross section at its lower end and increasing in cross section toward its upper end, preferably in the general form of an inverted cone, which serves as a flash boiler; and an upper drying or superheating chamber separated from the steam chamber proper by a wall having a restricted orifice therein, means for supplying feed water directly to the lower end of the flash boiler, means for so controlling and restricting the flow of water into the flash boiler that the water so supplied will be evaporated substantially instantaneously.

Another feature is that of providing an outlet near the top of the superheater chamber or steam dome, and leading the steam directly downward from said outlet to an oil injector by means of which the oil is thoroughly atomized and vaporized and combined with the steam is injected into the upper end of a retort. This retort is in the form of a coil, preferably a helix, and arranged to drain from the upper or inlet end to the lower end thereof. The outlet at the upper end of the superheater chamber is also connected with a safety valve which prevents the pressure from becoming excessive and tends to cause a more uniform flow of the steam. Another feature of the invention consists in the arrangement of the burner with a generally horizontal mixing chamber having at jects into a flash pan which cooperates therewith to provide a trough around the end of the mixing chamber to receive oil therefrom through a passage substantially atthe Another important feature consists in the provision of a burner having a portion with an upwardly, facing outlet generally annular in shape and closed by a corresponding shaped deflector of solid cross section and of heat resisting metal. Preferably, this deflector has adownwardly extending tapered flange to divide the current of the gaseous mixture to direct the inner part thereof toward the lower end of the boiler and the other part to a position such that when burned, it will heat the tubular retort more effectively. on each side with a series of upward and outwardly extending ribs or vanes which served to control the outward flow of the gaseous mixture and also to support the deflector on the burner proper. Preferably, these vanes are integral with the deflector, but it is obvious that they might be independent thereof, for instance, they might be integral with the outlet structure.

In this structure, the burner outlet is close to the boiler and retort and the mixing chamber is close beneath the burner outlet and supplies the mixture of air and gas at one side of the burner to a distributing chamber extending in both directions around the burner and beneath the outlet, and a feature of the invention consists in providing means for admitting air to flow upwardly inside the ring of the outlet, for example, by providing a passage between the lower wall of the dis tributing chamber and the upper wall of the mixing chamber at each side of the burner to permit the admission of air to the central part of the burner outlet to facilitate combustion at said outlet. 7

To enable supply of water to the lower part of the steam chamber of the boiler, a gap is left in the ring of the burner outlet at the side opposite the point where the mixture from the mixing chamber passes into the distributing chamber. Preferably, however, the ends of the mixing chamber and of the deflector, which is an incomplete annulus,

are so shaped that together with vanes assoc1 ated therewith they serve to direct the gaseous mixture across the gap in the annulus to provide a complete circle of combustion.

Another feature of the invention consists in the provision of a rib or flu, preferably integral with the boiler, which extends around the same immediately above the retort except at the side of the boiler from which the steam outlet projects. This rib or fin cooperates with the outlet to control the upward flow of'heated gases, thereby ef- This deflector is also provided mac-nee footing better heating of the boiler, there tort,and the oil injector. It should be noted that the oil injectorand the water connection for the boiler are located at the front side of the apparatus. I f

Another feature of the burner arrangement consists in providing a passage communicating at its inner endnear the burner with the lower end of the retort coil and extending above the main body of the mixing chamber to the rear side of the gas nozzle which it supplies with gas in normal operation or with oil at other times, as for exam ple,-in starting the operation ofgas generation. Preferably, a strainer is provided to prevent undesirable material from being carried into the nozzle with the flow of gas. At each side of the nozzle and the passage at the top of the mixing chamber there are ventilating openings through which air may be drawn by the action of the gas flowing from the gas nozzle into the mixing chamber. An'- other feature of the invention relates to 7 means. for controlling the admission of air.

Another feature relates to the disposal of oil when excessive amounts accumulate in the mixing chamber. The floor of this chamber adjacent to the oil nozzle is somewhat higher than the portion underneath the burner, so that oil flowing out of the gas nozzle, for example, at starting, will flow away from the nozzle and through the communicating passage into the flash pan, where it may beignited to supply heat for starting the operation, When, however, the oil in the mixing chamber rises above the level of the floor at the oil nozzle, it will flow outwardly past said oil nozzle and be drained from the apparatus in any suitable manner.

The above and other features of my invention may be more fully understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view illustrating one form of, my improved apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a front view;

Fig. 3 is a side view from the left of the apparatus shown inFig. 2;

Fig, 4 is a section on the line 44; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view along the staggered line 55 of Fig,

My improved apparatus or- ,unit is very compactlyarranged andfincludes an upper portion in which the steam and gas are generated and a lower portion or burner for heating said upper portion to produce the steam and also to impart sufficient heat to the mixture ofsteam. and atomized or vaporized liq uid fuel in a retort portion to raise the mixture'to the temperature required to produce the water gas. Preferably, the steam and gas generating device is adapted for use in thefire box of a furnace and may stand on the floor of the fire box, a portion of the burnor structure projecting outwardly through The gas producer and steam generating portion of the apparatus includes a. steam gen- 7 erator or boiler 10 having alower steam chamber 11 and an upper drying or: superheating chamber 12 separated therefrom: by

a wall having a restricted orifice and fromwhich steam is supplied toan oil injector 13; which acts to force oil from a supply pipe 14 into the upper end of a selfedraining retort 15 including a coil, preferably in. the form of a helix, surrounding the boiler- 1th, In normal operation of the apparatus, the steam chamber 11 serves asa flash boiler, in'that Water admitted theretois vaporized substantially hista-ntaneously. In order to produce this efiect, the steam chamber 11 is; relatively small at the bottom. and gradually increases in diameter towards the top-, being preferably in the. general form of an inverted; cone to the lower end of which water is supplied from. a supply pipe 16. This pipe is connected with the lower end of a passage or duct, in a vertical tubular member ortube. 17 which isthreaded into the lower end of the: boiler and projects to the upper part of the steam chamber 11. The tubular member 17 has in the 7 sides thereof orifices: or" open'ings 18 through which the fluid or Watermay be pro jected toward the wall of the steam chamber. The upper end of the tube or tubular member 17 is closedby a screen 19. which may be of one or more layers of very fine mesh so as to permit passage of fluid air though afi'ording, considerable resistance to high velocity flow therethrough. The tubular member 17 and screen 19 constitute a preferred form of a device 20 for screening and throttling up.- ward movement of fluid. This device 20 permits water to. collect in. the steam chamber 11' when the apparatus is not in. operation but restricts. such flow so that in full normal op,- eration the fluid or water will be vaporized substantially instantaneously upon passing,

out of said device. 20., e

The boiler 10 is formed with a horizontal projection in'the form of an outletor duct 21 which is close to the boiler with a downward extending internally threaded portion 22 connected bymeans including the member 23 with a steam chamber 24 of the oil injector 13'. At. its forward end, the. chamber 24 communicates with the rear end of, a steam nozzle 25 of which the forward end projects into the entrance of a Venturi tube 2.6 which connects at its outlet end with the upper end of the tubular retort 15. The forward end of the steam nozzle and the rear end of the Venturi tube provide an annular converging passage through which oil is drawn from a surrounding chamber 27 receiving oilfrom the pipe 14. The outlet duct 211's 1 also provided with a branch 28to communicafe with asafety'valve, (not shown).

. Preferably, the heating of the boiler and retort is eflected by burning part or all of the water-"gas generated in the retort. As here shown, the lower end of the retort l issthreaded into. block or member 29 having a passage 30 communicating with the interior ofathe retort and extending to the lower surfaceof the block 29 which is substantially a portion of a spherical surface and is therefore adapted to effect a close connection between the passage 30 and the upper end of a passage'31 ina base portion 32 of the apparatus. I A: washer 33"ispositioned in a suitable annular recesssurrounding the upper end of the -pas'sage31 and the block 29'is heldfirmly against thefupper face of the support 32'by suitable means such as screws 34..

From theduct or passage 31, the gas flows outwardly through a duct 35 over the top of a mixing chamber 36" and downwardly through the outer'end of the mixing chamher to the bottom or floor thereof, leaving air passages 37, at each'side thereof. The inner wall of the vertical portion of the duct 35 is provided with'a gas nozzle 38 which directs the gas through the mixing chamber and at the same time draws in air through the inlets. The floor of the mixing chamber 36i's lower in the portion thereof under the steam generating and gas producing portion of the apparatus and at its end opposite the nozzle curves upwardly towards an outlet or slot 39 formed between two edges extending 7 along the arcs of concentric circles. The POI? tion of themixing chamber leading up to the outlet '39 also communicates with branches of a distributing chamber 40 extending around the burner tip adjacent to the outlet 39. g

, 'Obviously,"the chamber 40 might extend completely around the tipofthe burner 41 but, as indicatedmost clearly in Fig. 4, terminates in spaced apart end walls 42 providing a gap through which the'water pipe 16 passes to the central part of the'burner and the lower endlof the boiler. The outlet or slot'is' of too greatwidth to produce effective burning of the gas or gaseous mixture and would not direct the flames or burning gases to the positions necessary to pro:

duce the most effectiveresults. The outlet of the burner is therefore provided with a deflector 42 which preferably consists of a heavy body havinga sharp downwardly extending rib 43 projecting into said outlet and isprovided both at its sides and ends with ribs or guides 44 which also serve to support the deflector on the walls at the side of the outlet 39 =It should also be noted that the ribs 44 and inclined ends of the deflector direct the flameat the end of the deflector in such manner that substantially a continuous circle of flame is produced. In order to supply air at the center .of the burner, the lower wall of the distributing chamber is spaced from the upper Wall of the mixing chamberto provide air inlets 40 (Fig. 4). Also, in order to utilize the heat from the burner to advantage, the boiler 10 is provided with a rib or fin 10" projecting outwardly therefrom just above the level of the oil in-. jector 13 and extending around the boiler except at the side above the oil injector. This fin 10 serves to control the currents of hot gases and assures heating of the oil injector, thereby facilitating the vaporization ofthe oil.

In order to prevent undesirable material in the duct 35 from-passing through the gas nozzle 38, provision is made of a suitable strainer or sieve 45 which is here shown as a hollow screen of circular cross section connected at one end with the rearend of the nozzle and at the other end with the open end of a tube 46 with its forward end threaded into an opening 47 in the outer wall 48 of the vertical portion of the duct 35 and in axial alignment with the nozzle 38. The rear end of the said tube or pipe 46 is closed by a cap 49 which may be removed when desired. Attached to the base 32 at the outer side of the wall 48 is an outwardly flared member 50 having at its lower edge a. tongue 51 adapted to engage with a groove 52 at the lower side of the floor of the mixing chamber and having at its upper side a perforated inwardly projecting lug 53 adapted to be connected with the wall 48 by means of a screw 54. At its lower side the member 50 is connected with a drain 55 to carry off excess oil when the oil in the mixing chamber has collected until its level'is above the higher portion of the floor adjacent to the nozzle 38. Under such conditions,.the oil will pass out through the air passages 37 and the drain pipe 55and may be led, if desired, to a suitable control device. 1 I

The flow of air to the inlets 37 may be regulated by a damper 56 including a sleeve 57 slidable along the tube 46 to be secured in suitable position by means of a screw 58. Turning of the damper 56 about the tube 46 may be prevented by guides 59 in the upper part of the member 50 in position to be engaged by the upper edge of the damper at opposite sides of the tube 46. Impurities in the air are kept out of the apparatus by means of a screen 60' extending across the mouth or inlet of the member 50 and secured in position by means including a frame 61.

The base portion 32 of the apparatus may be supported on the floor of the fire box in any suitable manner as, for example, by means of legs 62 (Fig. 2) threaded into bosses 63 projecting downwardly from the it will collect in the chamber 27 of the oil I 35 the mixing chamber and flash pan 6i. If at r and which is connected with the mixing chamber by .a passage .or duct 65 at such floor level.

from passage 65 and communicating with the drain pipe 67 and controlled by a suitable valve 68. The mixing chamber projects into the flash pan so as to leave only a trough to receive oil forburning in starting the apparat-us.

The operation of the apparatus is substantially as follows: V 7

When oil is supplied through the pipe 14 in starting the operation of the apparatus,

injector and flow through the Venturi tube 26 into the upper end of the retort 15 and will drain therethrough into the inner end of the duct above the outer end of the mixing chamber. The main portion of the duct 35 slopes downwardly and away from the burner and the oil flows through the duct to the vertical part thereof where it passes through the strainer 4-5 and is forced through thenozzle 38 towards the center of the apparatus, the oil flowing down theincline between the nozzle 38 and-the main floor 36 of the mixing chamber 36 and will collect in any time the oil in the mixing chamber rises above the level of the floor adjacent the gas nozzle 38, the surplus oil will flow out through the air passages 37 and down to the drain 55. i

The oil in the flash pan. is ignited and the heated gases passing upwardly will begin to heat the boiler 10 and the retort 15 and eventually will vaporize the. waterin the steam chamber 11, thereby causing steam to be supplied to the oil injector 13 and a mixture of steam and atomized or vaporized oil to be supplied to the retort and there combined to form water gas. Ordinarily at the beginning of this operation, water is standing at a predetermined water level determined by i the inlets 37.

suitable means (not shown). 7

Any water standing in the steam chamber 11 will be evaporated quickly and other water subsequently supplied through the openings in member 17 will be evaporated substantially instantaneously. The gas pro;- duced in the retort will then pass through duct 35 and nozzle '38 into the mixing chamber and mixed with air entering through The mixture will pass up from the forward end of the mixing chamber into the supply or distributing chamber 40 and then upwardly on opposite sides of the deflector 42 and will be guided to a great extent Drainage of both the mixing chamber and the flashpan may be obtained through a passage 66 extending downwardly by the ribs 44. The gaseous mixture will then be ignited at the burner outlet and the appas ratus will soon be in full normal operation. The oil in the flash pan 64; will soon be burned out and any oil left therein or in the mixing chamber 36 will be drained therefrom through the tube 6. i

The reaction occurring in theret'ort, the mixing otthe products of reaction with air, and the delivery to the burner have been described above. As the temperature rises the water gas reaction becomes complete and the burner having been ignited, the temperature of the flame therein increases and more air is induced through the airinlets until equilibrium is reached for a given rateof fuel supply. When the apparatus is in-full normal operation, the oil is completely vaporized and the retort operates at full efficiency, and

the gaseous mixture burns with a steady and V I intense blue flame. v V

While the size of my device is not an essential feature and while the relative sizes of parts may be varied within limits, it is an important feature-that I have-succeeded in embodying m a novel and compact arrangemcnt, elements whereby a true and relatively perfect water gas reaction may be brought about; It is an essential of such reaction not merely that the atomized oil bebroken down to combustible gas and free carbon, but also there should be the characteristic reaction of water with the free carbonor soot, to form combustible carbon monoxide (GO). My

construction of proportional parts is particu- 'lai'ly adapted to make certain the proper functioning of the device in this particular. As brought out in said copending application, one factor in producing the desired result consists inhaving the retort tube of great diameter as compared with the capacity of Many of the structural details described 6 in the specification are not essential to the success of the invention, for instance, sov far asconcerns the broader aspects of the invention, the. shape of the retort might be varied, a

other means might be utilized for controlling the flow of water and oil, or for controlling the .flo-w of the gaseous mixture through the outlet of the burner, without departing from the spirit of the invention which may include any and all changes and alterations that fairly falliwithin thescope of the appended claims.

I claim: v I 1. A gas vproducer and burner apparatus adapted for use in a furnace, including a boiler having a steam chamber having very small cross section at the bottom and with walls diverging upwardly at acute angles, means controlling the admission of water to said steam chamber and adapted to admit water at rates causing itto collect in said steam chamber when the apparatus is not in full operation while restricting the flow so that during full normal operation water will be vaporized as fast as admitted to the steam chamber, and a burner adapted to provide an annulus of gases of combustion directed toward the small lower end of the boiler for heating the same so as to cause it to act as a flash boiler.

2. A gas producer and burner apparatus, including a boiler having a steam chamber in the general form of an acute-sided inverted cone, means controlling the admission of water to said steam chamber and adapted to admit water at rates causing it to collect in said steam chamber when the apparatus is not in full operation while restricting the flow so that during full normal operation water will be vaporized as fast as admitted, a gas retort in the form of a coil surrounding said boiler, an injector operated by steam from said boiler to force oil into the upper end of said retort, and a burner adapted to direct an annulus of burning gas against the small lower end of said boiler and to direct an annulus of burning gases upwardly and outwardly beneath the coil of the retort.

3. A gas producer and burner apparatus including a boiler having a steam chamber in the general form of an inverted cone and a drying chamber above said steam chamber and separated therefrom by a wall having a central restricted orifice, a gas retort in the form of a coil surrounding said boiler, an

oil injector connected with the upper end ofv said coil relatively close to the boiler and receiving steam centrally from the upper end of said drying chamber and oil around the steam, and a safety valve outlet for the passage between said drying chamber and said injector. V

4:. In a gas producer and burner apparatus the combination with a burner, of a boiler, a retort in the form of a coil around said boiler, a tubular member projecting laterally fromthe top of said boiler, an oil injector beneath said tubular member adjacent to said boiler and connected with said tubular member and a source of oil supply and also with the upper end of said coil, and a rib extending around said boiler except at the side at which are positioned the injector and tubular out let member from the boiler, thereby assuring proper heating of the retort and the boiler.

5. In a gas producer and burner apparatus adapted for use in afurn ace, a generally circular burner, a boiler having at its lower end ratus is not in full operation, the water will be vaporized during full normal operation as fast as admitted to the steam chamber.

6. In a gas producer and burner apparatus having a boiler with a relatively small lower end, a gas retort in the form of a coil around said boiler, an oil injector actuated by steam from the upper part of the boiler and connected with the upper end of the coil to inject a mixture of oil and steam thereinto; a burner having a slot outlet in the form of an arc-of an incomplete circle having a gap, a deflector across said opening and having vanes or guides at each side and at the ends thereof to control'the flow of air and gas therefrom, the'vanes at the end of said deflector serving to direct the gaseous mixtures across the gap to provide a complete circle of combustion.

7. In a'gas producer and burner apparatus having a boiler with a relatively small lower end, a gas retort in the form of a coil around said boiler, and an oil injector actuated by steam from the upper part of the boiler and connected with the upper end of thecoil to inject therein a mixture of oil and steam; a burner having an outlet in the form of an arcofa circle but with a gap therein, said burner being located substantially at the lower end of said boiler, a mixing chamber beneath said burner, and a water supply line above said mixing chamber and extending through said gap to the center of the burner and there communicating with the lower end of the boiler.

8. In 'a gas producer and burner apparatus having a boiler with a relatively small lower end, a gas retort in the form of a coil around said boiler, and an oilinjector actuated by steam from theupper part of the boiler and connected with the upper end of the coil to inject a mixture of oil and steam thereinto; a burner having a slot outlet in the form of an arc of an incomplete circle, a deflector across said opening and having a substantial body portion coming to a sharp central edge at the top, a downwardly extending central rib at the bottom, and a plurality of vanes or guides at each side and at the ends thereof to control the flow of air and gas therefrom, the vanes at the end of said deflector actuated by steam from the upper end of the boiler and connected with the upper end of the coil to inject a mixture of oil and steam thereinto; a burner having an outlet slot between the circumferences of concentric circles, deflecting means at said outlet slot comprising a heavy body portion with a sharp downwardly projecting rib positioned in said slot and a series of ribs or vanes interposed between each side of said body portion and the corresponding edges of said slot.

10. In a gas producer and burner appar tus having a boiler, a gas retort in the form of a coil around said boiler, and an oil injector actuated by steam from the boiler and connected with the upper end of the coil to inject a mixture of oil and steam into the same; a burner to heat sald boiler and coil comprising an outlet having an arcuate slot and a supply or distribution chamber beneath said slot, and a mlxlng chamber ex tending beneath said outlet portion and communicating with the middle part of said supply or distribution chamber.

11. In a gas producer and burner apparatus having a boiler, a gas retort in the form of a coil around said boiler, and an oil injector actuated by steam from the boiler and connected with the upper end of the coil to inject a mixture of oil and steam thereinto; a burner to heat said boiler and 'coil having an outlet in generally circular form and a supply chamber beneath said outlet, a mixing chamber extending beneath the outlet portion of the burner and communicating from below with said supply chamber, and air inlets extending from the outside beneath the supply chamber to supply air upwardly inside of said outlet.

12-. In a gas producer and burner apparatus having a boiler, a gas retort in the form of a coil around said boiler, and an oil injector actuated by steam from the boiler and connected with the upper end of the coil to inject a mixture of oil and steam into the same; a burner to heat said boiler and coil comprising an outlet portion including a generally annular distributing chamber, a mixing chamber adapted to receive gas and air at one end and extending beneath said outlet portion to communicate on the opposite side of the burner with the lower side of said distributing chamber, a flash pan bounded by the wall of the mixing chamber at its inner side and at its outer side by a wall concentric with the burner and terminating at the sides of the mixing chamber, and a duct connecting the lower portions ofthe flash pan and mixing chamber to permit the drainage of oil from either one to the other.

13. In a gas producer and burner apparatus having a boiler, a gas retort in the form ofa coil around said boiler, an oil injector actuated by steam from theboiler and connected with the upper end of the coil to inject a mixture of oil and steam into the same; a burner to heat said boiler and coil comprising an outlet portion including a gene ally annular distributing chamber, a mixing chamber adapted to receive gas and air at one end and extending beneath said outlet portion to communicate on the opposite side of the burner with the lower side of said distributing chamber, a flash pan bounded by the wall of the mixing chamber at its inner side and at its outer side by a Wall concentric with the burner and terminating at the sides of the mixing chamber, a duct connecting the lower portions of the flash pan and mixing chamber to permit the drainage of oil from either one to theother, and a drain duct extending downwardly from the connecting duct intermediate its ends for draining said aixing chamber and flash pan.

14. In a gas producer and burner apparatus having a boiler, a gas retort in the form of a coil around'said boiler, an oil injector actuated by steam from the boiler and connected with the upper end of the coil to inject a mixture of oil and steam thereinto; means to heat said boiler and coil comprising a burner outlet portion including a distributing chamber, a mixing chamber extending beneath said outlet portion to communicate on the opposite side of the burner with the lower side of said distributing chamber, a duct connected at its inner end with the lower end of the retort near the boiler and extending along the top of the mixing chamber to the outer end thereof and then downwardly to the floor thereof, and a nozzle communicating with the lower end of said duct and directed into said mixing chamber.

15. In a gas producer and burner apparatus having a boiler, a self-draining gas retort including a coil around said boiler, an oil inject-or actuated by steam from the boiler and connected withthe upper end of the coil to inject a mixture of oil and steam thereinto; means to heat said boiler and coil comprising a burner outlet portion including a distributing chamber, a mixing chamber extending beneath said outlet portion to communicate on the opposite side of the burner with the lower side of said distributing chamber, a duct connected at its inner end with the lower end of the retort near the boiler and extending along the top of the mixing chamber to the outer end thereof and then downwardly to the floor thereof, a nozzle communicating with the lower end of said duct and directed into said mixing chamber, and a screen at the rear end of said nozzle.

Signed at Chicago in the'county of Cook, and State of Illinois, this 28th day of April,

EDWARD o. BENJAMIN. 

